Guideway for transport means

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to transport systems of most varied applications.  
     The essence of the invention: a guide track comprises two supporting elements ( 1 ), at least one longitudinal element ( 2 ), and transverse elements ( 3 ) and ( 4 ) connecting the above elements. To enhance the structure&#39;s stiffness and to unitize it, one makes use of side sheets ( 5 ), which interconnect elements ( 1 ) with at least one longitudinal element ( 2 ) or form a longitudinal element.

FIELD OF INVENTION

[0001] The invention relates to a most extensive range of devices,namely, any transportation systems including monorails, amusement rides,cableways, etc.

PREVIOUS ART

[0002] A known similar invention comprises two supporting elements, atleast one longitudinal element, and transverse elements which bindtogether the abovementioned elements (see Games & Parks, 9, 2000).Disadvantages of the known track are the excessive consumption of metaland its labor-intensive production.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The engineering object of the invention is to eliminate the saiddisadvantages, which will make the guide track structure cheaper andwill simultaneously increase its stiffness, preventing (reducing) theoccurrence of the supporting elements vibration.

[0004] The said object is achieved in the first embodiment of theinvention by providing the track, comprising two supporting and at leastone longitudinal element and transverse elements, with side sheets whichconnect the supporting elements with at least one longitudinal element,one part of the transverse elements being tied to the supportingelements and the other part with the supporting and at least onelongitudinal element.

[0005] To enhance the track stiffness, at least one supporting elementcan be tied to the side sheets, and to perform additional functions atleast one transverse element of the second part should be expedientlyexecuted with a fastening portion.

[0006] In another version the longitudinal element can also be a sheet,the sheets of individual track sections being made up of consecutivelyconnected plates, some of which in a number of cases may be connectedwith the supporting elements. The plates may be joined by welding.

[0007] The engineering object of the invention is achieved in a secondembodiment of the invention by providing that in the guide trackcomprising two supporting elements interconnected by transverse elementsat least some of which are connected with the longitudinal element, thesaid longitudinal element is made up of side sheets which can beconnected with the corresponding supporting elements.

[0008] To enhance the track stiffness, one can use additional sheetswhich interconnect the supporting elements and/or side sheets.

[0009] If interconnected with the side sheets, the additional sheets areat least connected with some transverse elements.

[0010] In still another version of the guide track the additional sheetsmake part of the longitudinal element, interconnecting the side sheetsand being connected to at least some transverse elements.

[0011] All sheets used (their part) can be made of consecutivelyinterconnected plates, part of which may have no connection with thesupporting elements: in this case the transverse elements may be alsoplates.

[0012] Both embodiments of the guide track may use at least one means ofconnection to the supports in the shape of a pipe element, which passesthrough an opening in the side sheet and is stiffly connected with theopposite side sheets directly and\or through an intermediate element,e.g., through a ring welded to the side sheet which encircles the pipeelement.

[0013] It is also possible to pass the pipe element through openings inthe opposite side sheets, a ring encircling the pipe element being fixedon each of the sheets.

[0014] In a third embodiment of the guide track, the engineering objectis achieved by using two supporting elements and at least onelongitudinal element connected by transverse elements, and diagonal barelements which connect the supporting elements with at least onelongitudinal element, one part of the transverse elements beingconnected with the supporting elements and the other part—with thesupporting elements and at least one longitudinal element.

[0015] To perform additional functions, at least one transverse elementof the second part should be expediently executed with a fasteningportion.

[0016] To reduce the nomenclature of the parts used, the supporting andlongitudinal elements can be made of the same type dimension (with thesame cross section), and the transverse elements of the second part—inthe shape of plates.

[0017] In order to form a box-like track, one can use sheets whichconnect the supporting elements or sheets which interconnect thesupporting elements and longitudinal elements, accordingly.

[0018] Diagonal bar elements can be mated with the supporting and onelongitudinal elements or with longitudinal elements on the sidesopposite to the transverse elements of the first and second parts,accordingly.

[0019] In all embodiments of the guide track the transverse elements canbe located perpendicularly and/or at an angle to the supporting andlongitudinal elements.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] The essence of the invention can be seen from the drawings.

[0021]FIG. 1 shows a plan view of the guide track.

[0022]FIG. 2 shows one of the versions of the cross section of the guidetrack.

[0023]FIG. 3 shows another version of the cross section of the guidetrack.

[0024]FIG. 4 shows the cross section of the guide track with alongitudinal sheet element.

[0025]FIG. 5 shows schematically a plan view of the guide track inanother embodiment of the invention.

[0026]FIG. 6 shows a side view of the guide track.

[0027]FIG. 7 shows a cross section of the guide track with an internaloutlay of the transverse elements.

[0028]FIG. 8 shows a version of the cross section of the guide trackwith an external outlay of the transverse elements.

[0029]FIG. 9 shows another version of the cross section of the guidetrack with an external outlay of the transverse elements.

[0030]FIG. 10 shows a cross section of the guide track with thetransverse elements bearing against the longitudinal element.

[0031]FIG. 11 shows a means of connection with the supports.

[0032]FIG. 12 shows another version of the means of connection with thesupports.

[0033]FIG. 13 shows a plan view of a third embodiment of the guidetrack.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0034] The guide track of a vehicle comprises supporting elements 1,longitudinal elements 2, transverse elements 3 which interconnect thesupporting elements, transverse elements 4 which interconnect elements 1and 2, side sheets 5 which connect elements 1 and 2 or form alongitudinal element, and sheets 6 and 7 which interconnect,respectively, elements 1 (side sheets 5) and 2.

[0035] The transverse elements are made as plates, the thickness ofwhich may be equal to the thickness of sheets; in this case transverseelements 4 may have fastening portions 8.

[0036] Longitudinal element 2 in the guide track of the first embodimentis made as a pipe or sheets, which may be formed within the portion byplates joined together (e.g., by welding).

[0037] When a longitudinal element is formed by side sheets 5, theindicated sheets are interconnected at an angle.

[0038] A variant is envisaged when the longitudinal element additionallycontains sheets 6, which are connected with the side elements and areconnecting the latter to the transverse elements 3.

[0039] In other versions of the guide track sheets 6 may not only make apart of the longitudinal element but also perform the function oftransverse elements (FIGS. 7-9).

[0040] When the track is made per FIGS. 8 and 9, sheets 6 to a greatextent may be referred to the longitudinal element, as they areconnected with side sheets 5 and are limited with transverse elements 4or transverse elements 3 and 4, that is, the indicated transverseelements pass inside the longitudinal element or are executed flush withsheets 6 and can be stiffly connected with sheets 6, which in FIG. 8 arenot connected with supporting elements 1 and in FIG. 9 are connectedwith them.

[0041] In the track shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 7, additional sheets 6 arein fact additional transverse elements, since they are connected onlywith supporting elements 1 and cover transverse elements 3 and 4 fromabove.

[0042] One should also keep in mind that sheets 6 can be made not solidbut latticed. Sheets 5-7 on some portions may be made of separate,individually interconnected plates 9, part of which may have noconnection with the supporting elements.

[0043] The transverse elements 3 may interconnect only supportingelements 1, and transverse elements 4 are additionally tied with sidesheets 5.

[0044] In this case elements 3 and 4 can be positioned bothperpendicularly to the supporting and longitudinal elements 1 and 2, andat an angle to them (not shown in the drawings).

[0045] The guide track is formed of individual portions interconnectedby joints.

[0046] The transverse elements are made as plates, the thickness ofwhich can be equal to the thickness of the sheets; in this casetransverse elements may have fastening portions 8.

[0047] To form the box-like shape of the track, sheets 6 and 7 are used,which additionally increase the structure's stiffness.

[0048] The guide track is placed onto supports 10 by means of pipeelement 11 passing through the openings in side sheets 5 or through theopening in one side sheet.

[0049] Pipe element 11 is rigidly bound (by welding) with thecorresponding side sheets 5 directly and\or through rings 12, which areconnected with the side sheets and encircle pipe element 11.

[0050] The third embodiment of the guide track employs diagonal elements13 for connecting elements 1 and 2 in place of side sheets 5, thediagonal elements being mated with the supporting elements andlongitudinal element or elements on the sides opposite to supportingelements 3 and 4, respectively.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

[0051] When a vehicle is moving along the track, the possibility thatelements 1 might vibrate due to their deformation on portions locatedbetween the transverse elements is excluded (reduced), and there appearsa possibility to increase the distance between the supports where partsof the composite track are fixed, which makes the transportation systemconstruction and operation more cost-effective.

[0052] When transverse elements 4 are used with fastening portions 8,the proposed structure also features some advantages over the knownstructures, since virtually all track elements and sheets arefunctioning when portion 8 is absorbing forces.

1. A guide track for a vehicle comprising two supporting elements, atleast one longitudinal element, and transverse elements, which isprovided with side sheets connecting the supporting elements with thelongitudinal element or longitudinal elements.
 2. A guide track asrecited in claim 1, in which one part of the transverse elements is tiedto the supporting elements and the other part to the supporting elementsand at least one longitudinal element.
 3. A guide track as recited inclaim 1 or 2, in which at least one transverse element is-tied to theside sheets.
 4. A guide track as recited in claim 2 or 3, in which atleast one transverse element of the second part is executed with afastening portion.
 5. A guide track as recited in any one of claims 1-4,in which the supporting and longitudinal elements are executed of thesame cross section.
 6. A guide track as recited in any one of claims1-5, which is provided with sheets connecting the supporting elements orwith sheets interconnecting the supporting elements and longitudinalelements, respectively.
 7. A glide track as recited in any one of claims2-6, in which the transverse elements of at least the second part aremade as plates.
 8. A guide track as recited in any one of claims 1-4 and6-7, in which the longitudinal element is made of a sheet.
 9. A guidetrack as recited in any one of claims 1-8, in which the sheets ofindividual track portions are formed of consecutively interconnectedplates.
 10. A guide track as recited in claim 9, in which part of theplates is not tied with the supporting elements.
 11. A guide track asrecited in claim 9 or 10, in which the plates are connected by welding.12. A guide track as recited in any one of claims 1-11, in which thetrack is executed with at least one means of connection with thesupports in the shape of a pipe element passing through an opening madein the side sheet and rigidly connected with the opposite side sheetsdirectly and\or through an intermediate element.
 13. A guide track asrecited in claim 12, in which the pipe element is passing through theopenings in the opposite side sheets.
 14. A guide track as recited inclaim 12 or 13, in which rings encompassing the pipe element are weldedto the side sheets in the openings area.
 15. A guide track as recited inclaim 14, in which the rings are rigidly connected with the pipeelement.
 16. A guide track for a vehicle comprising two supportingelements interconnected by transverse elements, at least part of whichis connected with the longitudinal element, in which the longitudinalelement is formed by interconnected side sheets.
 17. A guide track asrecited in claim 16, in which the side sheets are connected with thecorresponding supporting elements.
 18. A guide track as recited in claim17, which is provided with additional sheets interconnecting thesupporting elements.
 19. A guide track as recited in claim 18, in whichthe additional sheets are connected with the side sheets.
 20. A guidetrack as recited in claim 16, which is provided with additional sheetsconnected with the side sheets.
 21. A guide track as recited in claim20, in which the additional sheets are connected with at least a part ofthe transverse elements.
 22. A guide track as recited in claim 16, inwhich the longitudinal element is provided with additional sheetsinterconnecting the side sheets and connected with the same sides of atleast part of the transverse elements.
 23. A guide track as recited inany one of claims 16-22, in which the sheets are made of consecutivelyinterconnected plates.
 24. A guide track as recited in claim 23, inwhich part of the plates are not connected with the supporting elements.25. A guide track as recited in any one of claims 16-24, in which atleast part of the transverse elements are made-as plates.
 26. A guidetrack as recited in any one of claims 16-25, which is executed with atleast one means of connection with the supports in the shape of a pipeelement passing through an opening in the side sheet and rigidlyconnected with the opposite side sheets directly and\or through anintermediate element.
 27. A guide track as recited in claim 26, in whichthe pipe element is passing through the openings made in the oppositeside sheets.
 28. A guide track as recited in claims 26 or 27, in whichrings encompassing the pipe element are welded to the side sheets in theopenings area.
 29. A guide track as recited in claim 28, in which therings are rigidly connected with the pipe element.
 30. A guide track fora vehicle comprising two supporting elements, at least one longitudinalelement, and transverse elements which interconnect the above elements,which is provided with diagonal bar elements connecting the supportingelements to the longitudinal element or to the longitudinal elements.31. A guide track as recited in claim 30, in which one part of thetransverse elements is connected with the supporting elements and theother part—with the supporting elements and at least one longitudinalelement.
 32. A guide track as recited in claims 30 or 31, in which atleast one transverse element of the second part is executed with afastening portion.
 33. A guide track as recited in any one of claims30-32, in which the supporting and longitudinal elements feature thesame cross section.
 34. A guide track as recited in any one of claims30-34, which is provided With sheets connecting the supporting elementsor with sheets interconnecting the supporting elements and longitudinalelements, respectively.
 35. A guide track as recited in any one ofclaims 31-34, in which the transverse elements of at least the secondpart are made as plates.
 36. A guide track as recited in any one ofclaims 30-35, in which the diagonal elements are mated with thesupporting elements on the sides opposite to the transverse elements ofthe first and second parts, respectively.